Maybe you are choosing a new construction roof and you wonder which style is best for Shawnee roofers to install. Or perhaps you are calling for a re-roofing job and you want to know what to expect. Do you have the easiest possible roof to replace or are you in for an expensive bid? Here are some of the most common types of roofs our roofing professionals typically encounter…

Shawnee Roofers Explain: Roofing Styles

Gable Roof

Gable roofs are the most popular choices because it is attractive, not to mention cheap and easy to build. A gable roof has two surfaces of the same size, pitched at the same angle back to back to form a ridge at the top, giving a triangular appearance.

Ideal For: Gable roofs are great if you live in an area where it tends to rain a lot, as it allows for great drainage and also effective ventilation. You will also get the best ceiling space with this style.

Not Good For: If you live in an area with high winds, you might be in for some trouble. This style of roof is most likely to suffer from wind damage, our Shawnee roofers feel, and we’ve even seen some end walls collapse if they have not been braced properly.

Hip Roof

Another roofing style our roofers see a lot of is the hip roof. Instead of having perfectly flat sides like the gable roof, the hip roof has sloped sides, which come down to meet the walls. Building a hip roof is a little more intricate than a gable roof, but it’s easier to manufacture the walls of the house because they are all the same height.

Ideal For: Our roofers in Shawnee recommend hip roofs because they are well-suited for hurricanes and high winds, as there is substantial internal bracing. This style of roofing protects more of the house from rain and sun as well.

Not Good For: If you need a lot of attic storage space, you might not want a hip roof. Its steeper slope doesn’t really give you a lot of room to work with. Cross-hipped roofs are more high-maintenance because their valleys tend to collect debris, moisture and dirt, which causes flashing failures if left unattended.

Flat Roof

Flat roofs aren’t as common in our neck of the woods, although they are the cheapest to install (because they require the least amount of material!) Flat roofs have no pitch to them at all.

Ideal For: A flat roof is great if you want to save money. The Southwestern United States usually sees the most flat roofs in the nation, although eco-friendly “green” roofs that incorporate rooftop plants and green space are usually put onto flat roofs.

Not Good For: Flat roofs do not shed water very well, so they are best in dry areas. They also do not last as long because they are hit with the elements more directly. The average flat roof survives 10-20 years, versus 25-50 for pitched roof styles.

Do you have questions for our roofers in 66203?

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